In celebration of Syttende Mai on May 17 — a Norwegian national holiday also known as the country’s Constitution Day — Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, will host a variety of events in Decorah and online.
In a press release on April 24, Vesterheim Director of Communications and Marketing Becky Idstrom explained that Syttende Mai has been celebrated yearly since Norway ratified its constitution in 1814.
“Norwegians celebrate [Syttende Mai] with excited crowds—especially children—marching through the streets, waving flags, and singing songs,” Idstrom said in the press release. “This event is made possible by a generous gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund from Jeff and Marilyn Roverud.”
Vesterheim’s Museum Building will have craft making from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., followed by Norwegian-themed storytelling from Marcia Fox at 12:40 p.m. Vesterheim Commons will host local fiddler Erik Sessions at 12:00 p.m., in a performance that will also be live streamed at youtube.com/vesterheimmuseum. Admission to the Museum is free all day, and both buildings will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Outdoor events include a Children’s Parade through Vesterheim Heritage Park at 1:00 p.m., free ice cream from Sugar Bowl at 1:15 p.m., a welcome message from Vesterheim President/CEO Chris Johnson and a performance from Decorah’s Nordic Dancers, both of which will happen at 1:30 p.m. Guided tours of the historic buildings in Heritage Park will be given at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
According to the press release, Sessions has played the violin and fiddle for 45 years, and is “known throughout the area” for his solo and dance band performances. The press release also highlighted the Nordic Dancers, which first started in 1966. The group includes Decorah senior and junior dancers; each of the dancers began as third graders, and made “a 10-year commitment to continue [Nordic Dancing] through high school.”
Vesterheim Norwegian Language Instructor and Nordic Studies major Nick Rogness (‘24) told CHIPS that he felt the entire Syttende Mai holiday is vital to Decorah because of many members of the community with strong Norwegian connections.
“The support for Norwegian and Norwegian-American culture in the area is truly astounding sometimes, with Vesterheim and Nordic Fest being a couple of examples that come to mind,” Rogness said. “As an instructor of Norwegian language at Vesterheim’s Folk Art School, I can say that my students have shown me just how dedicated people are to learning about Norwegian culture, both around the country and here in Decorah.”
Rogness also said that he’s been celebrating all Norwegian holidays with Luther’s Nordic Studies department ever since he started at Luther. During Syttende Mai festivities, Rogness personally enjoys “eating copious amounts of ice cream and hot dogs,” a unique and true way Norwegians celebrate Constitution Day. While his personal favorite Norwegian holiday at Vesterheim is their Christmas Celebration Julfest — because of Julenisse (the Norwegian Santa), hot apple cider and lefse — he said that Syttende Mai is the most popular event.
“It’s always such a fun time to spend Norwegian holidays at Vesterheim; there is so much thought and care put into creating lively events that appeal to all sorts of people,” Rogness said.
In the event of inclement weather, the parade and Nordic Dancers would be canceled but other events would continue as planned. More information about how to celebrate Syttende Mai with Vesterheim can be found at https://vesterheim.org/program/syttende-mai-2024. Anyone interested in Vesterheim Museum programming, membership or donation opportunities can visit vesterheim.org, or call 563-382-9681.
